Compact with concealed compartment

ABSTRACT

A cosmetic compact having two or more storage areas for carrying cosmetics and other non-cosmetic items. The compact has a first storage enclosure for cosmetics, a second storage enclosure located interiorly of the first enclosure and a lid or cover member of the first enclosure. A second lid or cover member is provided on the second enclosure. First and second hinges are provided at the rear of each enclosure respectively for opening and closing each lid when access to the contents of each enclosure is desired. The structure of the compact can be in the form of two receptacles, one inside of the other or take an elongated form having two side-by-side receptacles with one receptacle having a cover or lid to conceal the contents.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 (e) to U.S.Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/670,301, filed Apr. 11, 2005.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a woman's compact which also includes aconcealed compartment containing items such as condoms and the like. Acompact for cosmetics generally comprises a receptacle for receivingcosmetics and a cover or lid with a mirror secured to the interior sideof the cover. The lid and receptacle has a clasp which is engaged tosecure the lid to the receptacle on the closed position and therebyprevent spillage of the contents such as powder, lipstick, brushes, etc.The present invention utilizes this configuration and provides inaddition a concealed storage area for receiving other non-cosmetic itemssuch as condoms.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The compact according to the present invention is designed to look likea conventional compact with high style, luxurious designs as part of theappearance treatment of the compact. The compact is designed to carryone or more condoms in a concealed or hidden compartment. Thiscompartment is provided to protect the integrity of the condoms while atthe same time providing privacy and discretion for the user. The firstcompartment of the compact can be a functioning cosmetic compact using amirror in the lid and providing one or more spaces for lipsticks,perfumes and other accessories. The second or concealed compartment isused for the storage of non-cosmetic items.

In use the customer opens a first cover of the compact to reveal amirror in a first compartment. Other contents may be present such as thenormal cosmetics which are carried in a woman's compact. Beneath thefirst compartment, the case has a second cover which can be raised toprovide access to a hidden compartment below which contain the condoms.In all cases, the compact is designed with an artistic and stylishexterior appearance so that it is attractive enough for anyone to carryas an accessory in a purse or other suitable pouch just as a user woulddo with a conventional brush compact or other cosmetic container.

The primary function of the case is to allow the user to carry itemssuch as condoms in a discreet manner. In all of its aspects, the caseappears to be a conventional compact for make-up, but includes a hiddencompartment, the privacy of the user is maintained while at the sametime providing the user with the availability of condoms for thespecific needs of the user and the activities which the user may beengaged in.

In one aspect, the present invention provides a cosmetic case comprisinga first storage enclosure and a second storage enclosure locatedinteriorly of the first enclosure. A first lid movable relative to thefirst enclosure between open and close positions for receiving cosmeticsis provided. A second lid is attached to the second enclosure, the firstenclosure having space above the second enclosure for locating itemswhich are readily accessible when the first lid is in its open position,but are inaccessible when the lid is in its closed position. The secondenclosure extends beneath the first enclosure for receiving andremovably securing a packaged item in position. The invention beingcharacterized in that the second enclosure is hidden and not visiblewhen the first lid is opened

In another aspect, the invention provides a cosmetic package comprisinga base unit having a first upper storage compartment, a second lowerstorage compartment and a pair of spaced apart sidewalls. A first lidmovable relative to the base unit between open and closed positions isprovided, the first compartment for receiving cosmetics, the secondlower compartment for receiving at least one sealed package. A secondlid is located interiorly of the base unit covering the secondcompartment, the first compartment having space for locating items whichare readily accessible when the first lid is in the open position butare inaccessible when the lid is in the closed position. The secondlower compartment has a space extending beneath the second lid forreceiving and removably securing in position a packaged item with theinvention being characterized in that the contents of the secondcompartment are concealed and not visible when the first lid is opened.The packaged item in the second compartment is maintained in secrecy andis undetectable when the first lid is lifted.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawingswherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the compact case according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along lines A-A of FIG.

FIG. 3 is sectional view taken along lines B-B of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a detail view of a first exterior and a second interior hingeof the compact case according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the compact case according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 6 is a detail view of an insert attached to the exterior cover ofthe compact case.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the case with the first lid open.

FIG. 8 is a detail view of a internal hinge for the second lid.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the compact case according to theinvention with the second lid opened revealing the packaged contents inthe interior of the compact stored in the second manually concealedcompartment.

FIG. 10 is plan view of an alternate embodiment of the compact caseaccording to the present invention with the primary cover opened.

FIG. 11 is another plan view of an alternate embodiment of the compactcase according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A plan view of the compact according to the present invention is shownin FIG. 1. As shown therein, the invention comprises a compact 10comprising an outer case 12, a clasp 14 at the front of the case and apair of hinges 16 at the rear of the case. As shown in FIG. 1, an insert18 is mounted interiorly of the cover which has a decorative patternimparted thereto to provide the look of a conventional compact to thepackage. In one embodiment of the invention, the outer case 12 isfabricated of clear acrylic.

A section view taken along lines A-A of FIG. 1 is shown in FIG. 2.Compact 10 is shown in elevation including the outer case 12 whichcomprises a base compartment 20 and a cover 22. One of the hinges 16 forcover 22 is also shown in FIG. 2. A second case is located interiorly ofcase 12. Case 15 comprises a lid or cover 24 and a receptacle 17 whichcomprises the inner secret compartment for holding condoms 21 and thelike. Insert 18 is also shown in FIG. 2 affixed to the interior side ofcover 22.

A sectional view of the compact according to the present invention isshown in FIG. 3, a view taken along lines of B-B of FIG. 1 to illustrateone of the pair of exterior hinges 16 for cover 22. One of the hinges 16is shown in greater detail in FIG. 4. As seen therein hinge 16 isconnected to cover 22 and allows this cover to be pivoted and raisedupwardly to reveal a mirror 26 which is provided on the interior side ofinsert 18. FIG. 4 also illustrates a second hinge 26 which is a hingefor the inner cover 24 which is opened to reveal the contents containedwithin the second or concealed compartment.

The compact according to the present invention is further illustrated inthe perspective view of FIG. 5 wherein the compact 10 is showncomprising outer case 12, lid 22, clasp 14 and insert 18. FIG. 6 apartial detail of the outer appearance of an interchangeable insert intothe top cover showing a crystal design to carry out the decorative andaesthetically pleasing design of a woman's compact. Other designs aswell as company logos are contemplated as possible alternate designs forthe insert.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view according to the present invention with theouter cover 12 raised revealing a mirror 26 on the underside of insert18 and an inner case 15 is shown in place inside outer case 12 with thecover 24 closed. FIG. 8 shows the detail of hinge 26 of the inner cover24 in the closed position.

When cover 24 is raised, the contents within the inner compartment arerevealed and accessible. This is shown in the perspective view of FIG.9. Cover 12 is raised and pivoted past the vertical and subsequentlycover 24 is raised to an approximate 80° angle to allow easy access tothe contents of compartment 25.

A first alternate embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 10 in aplan view. A compact 40 comprises a case 42 having two side-by-sidecompartments 44, 46. Compartment 44 is provided to receive cosmeticssuch as face powder and cosmetic appliances such as a blush applicator45. Spring clips 47 hold application 45 in place. A cover 48 isconnected to case 42 by hinges 50. Attached to the underside of cover 48is a mirror 52. A second cover 54 is provided covering compartment 46.Cover 54 conceals the contents of compartment 46 maintaining privacy forthe user when cover 48 is opened to gain access to the cosmetics. Cover54 is connected to compartment 46 by hinges 56 and a clasp 58 isprovided to secure cover 54 to case 42 until the user desires to gainaccess to the contents.

A second alternate embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 11, aplan view similar to the embodiment shown in FIG. 10. In this embodimentcompartment 58 is provided with protruding sides to provide a frictionfit for a lipstick holder or a perfume vial 59. Adjacent compartment 58is a second compartment 60 having a cover 62 connected by hinges 64 tothe body of case 66. Covered compartment 60 provides a concealedreceptacle for packaged items such as a condom. A mirror 68 is mountedin the interior of cover 12.

1. A cosmetics case comprising a first storage enclosure, a secondstorage enclosure located interiorly of the first enclosure, a first lidmovable relative to the first enclosure between open and closedpositions, a second lid attached to the second enclosure, the firstenclosure having space above the second enclosure for locating itemswhich are readily accessible when the first lid is in its open positionbut are inaccessible when the lid is in its closed position, the secondlower enclosure extending beneath the first enclosure for receiving andremovably securing in position a packaged item, characterized in thatthe contents of the second enclosure is hidden and not visible when thefirst lid is open such that the packaged item in the second enclosure ismaintained in secrecy and is undetectable until the second lid islifted.
 2. A case according to claim 1 including a first set of hingesfor connecting the first lid to the first enclosure.
 3. A case accordingto claim 2 including a clasp for securing the first lid to the firstenclosure in the closed position.
 4. A case according to claim 1including a second set of hinges for connecting the second lid to thesecond enclosure in the interior of the first enclosure.
 5. A caseaccording to claim 4 wherein the second set of hinges are completelyenclosed interiorly of the first enclosure.
 6. A case according to claim4 including a clasp for securing the second lid to the second enclosure.7. A case according to claim 2 including a mirror attached to theinterior side of the first lid.
 8. A cosmetics package comprising afirst case, a second case located interiorly of the first compartment, afirst lid movable relative to the first case between open and closedpositions for receiving cosmetics, the second case for receiving atleast one package, a second lid attached to the second case, the firstcase having space above the second case for locating items which arereadily accessible when the first lid is in its open position but areinaccessible when the lid is in its closed position, the second caseaccompanying a fraction of the volume of the first case for receivingand removably securing the packaged item, characterized in that thecontents of the second case is hidden and not visible when the first lidis open such that the packaged item in the second enclosure ismaintained in secrecy and is undetectable until the second lid islifted.
 9. A package according to claim 8 including a first set ofhinges for connecting the first lid to the first case.
 10. A packageaccording to claim 9 including a clasp for securing the lid to the firstcase in the closed position.
 11. A package according to claim 8including a second set of hinges for connecting the second lid to thesecond case.
 12. A package according to claim 11 wherein the second setof hinges are completely enclosed interiorly of the first case.
 13. Apackage according to claim 11 including a clasp for securing the secondlid to the second case.
 14. A package according to claim 9 including amirror attached to the interior side of the first lid.
 15. A cosmeticscase comprising a base unit having a hinged cover, a first storage area,a second storage area located adjacent the first area, a lid enclosuremovable relative to the second storage area between open and closedpositions, wherein cosmetics are stored in the first storage area andwherein at least one package is stored in the second storage area suchthat the cosmetics are readily accessible when the hinged cover is inits open position, the second storage area extending alongside the firstarea for receiving and removably securing in position a packaged item,characterized in that the contents of the contents in the second closedarea is hidden and not visible when the hinged cover is open such thatthe packaged item in the second area is maintained in secrecy and isundetectable until the lid closure is opened.
 16. A case according toclaim 14 including a set of hinges for connecting the lid closure to thebase unit.
 17. A case according to claim 15 including a clasp forsecuring the lid closure to the base unit.
 18. A case according to claim14 including a third storage area for receiving a cosmetics applicator.19. A case according to claim 17 wherein the third storage is configuredto receive a cosmetic applicator.
 20. A case according to claim 14including a mirror attached to the interior side of the hinged cover.21. A case according to claim 19 wherein the packaged item is a condompackage.